Brown and Benson attended a signing ceremony in the lobby of First Niagara Center, across Perry Street from the Webster Block, a 2-acre parcel where the Sabres are building a hockey destination expected to draw 550,000 annual visitors.

HarborCenter, a $172.2 million complex that includes two ice rinks, a 200-room hotel and 845-space parking garage, is currently under construction, though a ceremonial groundbreaking is planned for April. The rinks’ opening is scheduled for September 2014, with the hotel slated to open in spring 2015.

The project also includes a 12,000-square-foot sports bar at Washington and Scott streets and 8,000 square feet of retail space along Main Street.

A proposal to develop the block from the Sabres and owner Terry Pegula was selected by Brown in August following a competitive bid process.